Washington and Kiev Willfully Sabotaging Minsk Agreement
by Stephen Lendman
Washington and Kiev partner in high crimes against peace. Obama uses junta proxies to wage naked aggression against Donbass residents.
They reject fascist rule. They want democratic rights everyone deserves. Minsk failed like earlier agreements.
Washington and Kiev sabotaged it. Fascists don't negotiate in good faith. Expect full-scale war resumed at Obama's discretion - most likely this spring.
Kiev refuses to observe Minsk ceasefire terms it agreed to. Heavy weapons were repositioned, not withdrawn. Economic blockade continues.
In late February, the Ron Paul Institute (RPI) accused Washington, Britain and Kiev of breaching Minsk terms. Obama and Cameron deployed combat troops to Ukraine masquerading as trainers and advisors.
America continues supplying heavy weapons and munitions covertly. It did so throughout months of conflict.
It's providing generous funding for war-making. Britain may be doing the same thing.
Both countries outrageous accuse Russia of their own high crimes.
Though not Minsk signatories, they endorsed ceasefire, demanded compliance, yet "blatantly" sabotage what was agreed on.
According to RPI: "The US and UK demand that everyone else observe the Minsk Agreement, yet somehow they and their proxies in Kiev are exempt."
On March 12, Donetsk People's Republic parliament speaker Andrey Purgin called Kiev's refusal to recognize Donbass autonomy political betrayal.
According to Minsk terms, "the disengagement line is coordinated, that is, coordinated by the two sides," said Purgin. "And here we have a (deceptive political) statement. This is a cover-up operation."
It's aimed at exacerbating things along disengagement line positions, he explained.
Multiple Kiev ceasefire violations occur daily. "Over the last 24 hours there were 50," Purgin explained. Kiev's rhetoric "masks the real situation."
The reliable Colonel Cassad (CS) site reported Kiev "torpedoing" Minsk. It "didn't finish the POW exchange, didn't stop shooting, didn't pullback its heavy weapons and artillery, denied amnesty to the DPR leaders," and wants Donbass denied local autonomy.
What's ongoing shows junta officials are "systematically and purposefully sabotag(ing) Minisk (with clear intent) to resume war and shift blame…on the DPR, the LPR and the RF (Russian Federation)," said CS.
Donbass freedom fighters routed junta forces earlier. CS expressed confidence they'll be defeated again in the next round of fighting.
On March 13, Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) accused Kiev of sabotaging Minsk.
A joint statement to Merkel and Hollande said:
"We have to appeal to you as the guarantors of the agreement signed in Minsk with a request to put pressure on Ukraine, up to personal and economic sanctions, to force its authorities to carry out the set of measures agreed upon by the contact group in Minsk on February 12, 2015 with your active participation."
On March 12, Tass reported DPR Contact Group (Russia, OSCE and Ukraine) envoy Denis Pushilin saying:
"Kiev has 24 hours left to comply with its commitments."
"If the mentioned decision is not taken within 24 hours, then the whole world will see that Kiev is not planning to stick to the road map agreed in Minsk."
The "whole world" already knows. Donbass is Obama's war. He deplores peace. Kiev breached Minsk straightaway - just like previous terms agreed on.
Chances for durable, sustainable peace are virtually zero. It's just a matter of time before full-scale war resumes.
Days earlier, Germany expressed dissatisfaction with Kiev's failure to observe Minsk.
On Friday, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said "Kiev authorities (are) failing to fulfill Minsk agreements."
On March 12, Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying:
"We are compelled to note the continuing focused policy of official Kiev on infringing on the rights of Ukrainians in the southeast of the country, who, in violation of all legal and moral rules and obligations, are not being paid their pensions and subsidies from the Ukrainian budget."
"By arbitrarily and unilaterally suspending the payment of pensions and subsidies to residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, the Kiev authorities have violated their commitments under Articles 9, 11 and 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights with regard to a segment of the country’s population."
"This refers to the rights to social security, to an adequate standard of living (including adequate food, clothing and housing) and to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health."
"Furthermore, the Kiev authorities are acting on a discriminatory basis (with respect to territory), which is therefore in conflict with Article 2, Part 2 of the Covenant, which directly prohibits discrimination in exercising the rights that it proclaims."
"Despite the fact that a month has passed since the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements was adopted there is no evidence of Kiev honouring its obligations to resume the operation of the banking system and to restore socio-economic ties, including social security transfers, such as the payment of pensions and other payouts (as stipulated under point 8 of the Package)."
"We call on the relevant international organisations and structures to urge the Kiev authorities to end such an inhuman policy toward socially vulnerable segments of the population."
Germany expressed displeasure about "false information" from Washington - willfully distorting things on Ukraine.
On the one hand, Chancellor Merkel accused US NATO chief General Philip Breedlove of "dangerous propaganda."
On the other, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told John Kerry "(i)t is far too early to pat our shoulders and take pride in what we've achieved" in Ukraine.
Steinmeier discussed Breedlove's Big Lies with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
Saying twice "information we had from our sources was not entirely consistent with (what) came from the United States or NATO" - a polite way of calling Breedlove a liar.
Willful lies were hyped to stoke tensions ahead of resuming full-scale conflict. Germany and France appear to want things resolved diplomatically.
Russia continues doing most to achieve it. Washington, Britain and Kiev want war.
Saturday is a designated deadline for Kiev to grant Donbass special political and economic status. So far, junta officials obstruct, delay and spurn what they're obligated to support.
According to Russia's OSCE envoy Andrey Kelin:
Kiev's parliament "adopted a statement that it will not cooperate with representatives of the self-proclaimed republics while organising local elections."
It's reneging on everything it pledged. It spurns peace. It's preparing for more war
Russians unsurprisingly support their leadership. New Russian Public Opinion Research Center poll numbers show Putin has 88% public support.
Only 7% expressed opposition. Russians trust him for creating stability, Crimean reunification, strengthening Moscow's world status, and improving the overall well-being of Russian citizens.
An overwhelming 94% oppose a (US manipulated color revolution) Russian maidan. Three fourths believe it's not possible.
At the same time, they're concerned about events in Ukraine. According to poll director Valeri Fedorov:
"People seem to realize that these revolutions result not only in confusion and chaos, but also in serious negative consequences for Russia:"
A Ukrainian Orange Revolution took place as far back as 2004. Last year, Russians had the most negative expectations (about last year's Maidan uprising."
"They expected an economic downturn, policy reversals, a socioeconomic crisis, etc."
"These were the expectations, and now a year has passed, and it turned out that everything is even worse than expected, plus a war has started."
"Therefore, Russians have only become more entrenched in their positions." They rely more on their government for security.
On Maidan's February anniversary, tens of thousands rallied in central Moscow against Kiev's illegitimate coup d'etat government.
They fear its recklessness may launch war with Russia. Given Washington's longstanding regime change plans, their concerns are well justified.
Things seem headed inexorably toward East/West confrontation. The possibility of nuclear war should scare everyone.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.